We build dream houses every day. A huge part of our responsibility is designing the floor plan, interior spaces, and exterior elevations of the house around the lifestyle of the Customer. Here on Cape Cod,  the house design can be significantly limited by the building lot. There are myriad variables which may not impact houses in other areas, such as wind borne debris zones, flood plains, etc.

Many times we ask Customers to create “must have” and “would really like to have” lists for the amenities they desire in their new home. Our architectural design team is very skilled at including Customer requirements, while accommodating the regulatory, zoning, and building code limitations. Here is a great list of pitfalls often encountered by people who design their own home. It’s good information, even if you’re working with experts, like REEF.

Mistakes to avoid when building your Cape Cod home

Mistakes to avoid when building your Cape Cod home

Brewster on Cape Cod is a magical place. Here’s a short video of building progress on a beautiful Cape Cod style home. Jim Hagerty, REEF’s lead designer, created a wonderfully open floor plan and great curb appeal in a home that fits beautifully into the landscape and neighborhood. Wes Price, REEF’s field supervisor, is on-site ensuring that quality is in every aspect of the construction.

This beautiful home replaced a dilapidated old cottage. The site itself was challenging, but nothing that the REEF team hasn’t seen before. They are experts at working with challenging situations and exceeding expectations. 

REEF home being built in Brewster on Cape Cod

REEF home being built in Brewster on Cape Cod

Lumber! Not on the tip of everyone’s tongue, but it’s something that is vital to REEF homes. We’re constantly refining and upgrading our materials and techniques. Many modern products allow us to build a better, stronger house at the same cost, and sometimes deliver a savings. This a great example: presently REEF is building a home using a new Georgia Pacific (GP) lumber product.

GP’s new engineered lumber is more resistant to flaws like warping and absorption. It also allows more flexibility in the design, letting homeowners build bigger rooms with more intricate finishing, leaving a professional look, while reducing the number of beams required.

Here’s a short article from GP outlining the benefits of their new engineered lumber, and describing REEF’s involvement:

REEF uses new Engineered Lumber

REEF uses new Engineered Lumber

This is a question that we hear almost daily. The answer is never an easy one. There are myriad variables that affect how various Towns on Cape Cod may restrict or control your home’s bedroom count. We've prepared an easy-to-understand synopsis of some Cape Cod Town Bylaws, how they may impact your home, and what to do about it:

Bedroom Count Rules Report

Bedroom Count Rules Report

Cape Cod has always been a great place to retire. Yes, it's a wonderful place to raise a family (worked for me!), but the Cape is renowned for its easy lifestyle for the golden years.  

The Baby Boomer Generation is the largest age group of our population. These retirees, or soon to be retirees, are also looking to downsize from their current homes, and looking to purchase or build ones that are specific to their new needs and lifestyles. These buyers are very specific in their desires and needs. 

Here's a great article outlining what baby Boomers are looking for in their retirement home. Fortunately, you can find all these amenities in REEF-Built homes!

What Downsizers look for in Cape Cod Homes

What Downsizers look for in Cape Cod Homes

Almost every day we get a call from folks interested in updating their Cape Cod home. Frequently they have owned the home for many years. Sometimes our Customers have purchased an older home with replacement in mind. Every case is different, which makes our job fun.

Whether you seek a seasonal escape big enough to accommodate family and friends, or have dreaming of a comfortable retirement home on Cape Cod, we can turn your tired cottage into a wonderfully inviting place to enjoy life.

We've put together some Before & After examples. These are great to get your creative juices flowing:  Before and After Home Transformation Examples

 Looking for your Cape Cod Summer Rental?  Stay in a brand new REEF Home this summer - check out our  Summer Rental on Barnstable Harbor Click Here:  REEF Summer Rental

If you are considering a new home or major renovation here on Cape Cod and what to know what your new home might cost? click here to download our Consrtuction Cost Guide

If you are considering buying land on Cape Cod, click here to download our Guide to Buying Land on Cape Cod

 If you want to follow one of our current custom home projects in real time  you can Follow the Build Here:

Follow the Build Part II

Here’s an example of a Before and After transformation:

Before and After Home Transformation Examples

Homes we build for our Customers are great sources of pride. Substantial planning, financial commitment, and lots of anticipation make for long term celebrations by our Customers when they move in to their new Cape Cod home. Pride is reflected in the curb appeal of a REEF built home. We invest significant design time and effort ensuring that our Customers feel that sense of pride when arriving home, for many years to come.

Here are some entryway makeover ideas that can help bring new life and warmth to a tired and unwelcoming house design. Many of these ideas are easy to do. Some are more involved. If you’d like some help redesigning your Cape Cod home, please call the team at REEF.

Entryway Improvements for your Cape Cod Home

Entryway Improvements for your Cape Cod Home

Same old, same old is no fun. Although REEF homes contain the spaces required and desired for comfortable living, we are always looking for new and different ideas to add some fun, and make spaces unique. Kitchen islands are very popular. They often contain cooking surfaces, refrigerated drawers, sinks, and electrical outlets. They have become the center of the heart of the home.

Here are 64 unique kitchen island ideas. Using different textures, colors and unusual pieces will bring your special place alive. Making your Cape Cod home comfortable is important. Making it special and unique is half the fun!

Unique Kitchen Island Designs for your Cape Cod Home

Unique Kitchen Island Designs for your Cape Cod Home

The Cape Cod look: hydrangeas, privet hedges, shingles and clapboard…and gravel driveways. Many of our Customers are not interested in a paved driveway. This is Cape Cod after all, where lifestyle is important, and people come to relax. So a nice bluestone driveway is very popular.

Crushed clam shell driveways are popular too, but the shells disintegrate over time. Then the powdery shells are easily tracked into the house. For folks who want that white driveway look, we use white stones mixed with about 10% clam shells, so you end up with a nice white drive without all the clam shell chips and powder.

Whether blue stone or sea shells, the loose material will end up moving over time. And the occasional snow plow really wreaks havoc with the stones. Here’s a paving technique that creates a stone driveway surface that will stay in place. It behaves like regular pavement, but gives you the more relaxed Cape Cod feel. It’s details like this that have helped build REEF’s reputation for fine home building over the years.

Create a low maintenance gravel driveway on Cape Cod

Create a low maintenance gravel driveway on Cape Cod

We all love outdoor spaces during a Cape Cod summer. Often when we replace dilapidated cottages with new homes on small lots, outdoor entertaining space can shrink a bit. Making the most of limited space for casual dining and relaxing is very important to many of our Customers. We have developed special treatments and creative ways to maximize a back or side yard, providing a quiet space with shade and “elbow room”.

Here’s a great article on creating really livable spaces in tight quarters. Some inventive ideas for creating an age old desire: space to relax.

Optimize your small outdoor space on Cape Cod

Optimize your small outdoor space on Cape Cod